Sat, Jul 6, 2024 at 12:00am

KLAY THOMPSON TRADED IN SIX-TEAM TRADE!

In a six-team trade, the Dallas Mavericks acquired forward/guard Klay Thompson from the Golden State Warriors, and a second-round draft pick in 2025 from the Denver Nuggets; Golden State acquired forward Kyle Anderson from the Minnesota Timberwolves, and guard/forward Buddy Hield from the Philadelphia 76ers; the Charlotte Hornets acquired guard Reggie Jackson, a second-round draft pick in 2029 and a second-round draft pick in 2030 from the Nuggets, and forward/guard Josh Green from the Mavericks; Minnesota acquired a second-round draft pick in 2025 from Philadelphia, and the right to swap second-round draft picks in 2031 and cash considerations from the Warriors; Philadelphia acquired a second-round draft pick in 2031 from the Mavericks; and Denver acquired cash considerations from the Hornets.

What does it give the Dallas Mavericks
Thompson is already a famous basketball player, and now he is the key piece to the NBA's first six-team trade in history! Thompson joins Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving to form a lethal "big three" in Big D. Is Thompson the missing ingredient that enables the Mavs to leap to the front of the Western Conference, and possibly get the better of the Boston Celtics moving forward? Maybe.

What does it give the Golden State Warriors
It is the end of an era in Golden State after this trade, but at least the Warriors were able to land Anderson and Hield via this deal. Both are likely to be key players in head coach Steve Kerr's rotation this coming season. Both Anderson and Hield might come off the bench for Golden State, but both have the ability to start as well. Are the Warriors better without Thompson? Probably not.

What does it give the Charlotte Hornets
The Hornets could potentially be the winners of this deal (besides Dallas, of course). In Jackson, they get a solid backup point guard. Meanwhile, Green is a decent wing player who can play a few different positions on an NBA team. Adding two future second-round draft picks, one in 2029 and another in 2030, is the bonus in this transaction. Charlotte did fairly well in this complicated deal.

What does it give the Minnesota Timberwolves
For the Timberwolves, a squad that has aspirations to reach the NBA finals in 2024-25, their inclusion in this deal is purely financial. Moving out Anderson was necessary because of the other moves Minnesota is making this summer. The T'wolves were also able to secure a second-round draft pick from Philadelphia for next year, plus a second-round draft swap in 2031 and some cash.

What does it give the Philadelphia 76ers
The 76ers got involved in this six-team transaction when they signed Hield and shipped in to the Warriors as a possible Thompson replacement (a poor man's version of Thompson, anyway). The Sixers were able to secure a second-rounder in 2031 from the Mavs. More importantly, the Sixers are making moves in an attempt to get over the hump in the Eastern Conference this summer.

What does it give the Denver Nuggets
The Nuggets, the 2023 NBA champions, were included in this mega trade in order to shed some salary. They were able to do so by shipping backup point guard Jackson to Charlotte. Denver got back some cash in this deal, but they also had to send some draft capital to both the Mavericks and Hornets as part of the deal. When a good team needs to shed salary, trading second-rounders is par for the course.

Fantasy impact
Thompson should not be overvalued on draft day. He is going to a good situation to win with the Mavericks, but he should remain behind Doncic and Irving on the team's scoring pecking order. Therefore, do not overrate Thompson this year. Hield and Anderson have some value as members of the Warriors, but they are not major impact players. Meanwhile, Jackson and Green may or may not carve out big roles on a Hornets team that is still not a contender in the Eastern Conference.

Player focus

Dallas Mavericks

Klay Thompson F/G

Draft pick - Round 2 in 2025

Charlotte Hornets

Reggie Jackson G

Josh Green F/G

Draft pick - Round 2 in 2029

Draft pick - Round 2 in 2030

Minnesota Timberwolves

Draft pick - Round 2 in 2025

right to swap second-round draft picks - Round 2 in 2031

cash considerations

Philadelphia 76ers

Draft pick - Round 2 in 2031

Denver Nuggets

cash considerations